The New York Times published an op-ed on Sunday by seven infantrymen and noncommissioned officers serving in Iraq with the 82nd Airborne. The writers expressed skepticism "of recent press coverage portraying the conflict as increasingly manageable" and went on to describe Iraq as a "lawless environment." Are Army personnel free to publicize their opinions?

"The soldier is also a citizen." This statement, attributed to both George Washington and Napoleon, is one of the fundamental precepts of a democratic society. Citizens in democratic societies are encouraged to express their opinions about the wisdom of their government's actions and policies.

Does membership in the armed forces somehow limit freedom of expression? And, if it does, how are those limits to be set....?

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Long story short, the soldiers who penned this article are for all intents and purposes out of the Army.

In all fairness though, if you are smart enough to express yourself like this, you are smart enough to know the military is not a democracy.

Hmmm...there is a nasty habit amongst US journos to interview several soldiers, produce an article with categorical statements in it, allege these are the statements of the soldiers they interviewed but insist on maintaining anonymity...

Right Cuddles. I know of a journo who wrote a widely quoted article on life in the frontlines of Iraq. He talked about the successes and high morales of the troops and how they were committed to the policies of 'turning Iraq around.' Everybody (including I) took it as fact until I learnt that he based his articles on E-mail messages he was getting from his nephew who was over there.

Yes DD...I was referring to a syndicated journo, who was working for a group of mid-West dailies and got caught out. sorry but I cannot remember his name - which perhaps puts me in the same category as him!!

You seem to have a very optimistic way of looking at things. From one enlisted guy to a field grade officer: "you sir are wrong." For all intents and purposes, these guys are done for. Because their articles has garnered national and international attention, they will probably not be 'fired' for the crime but for the coverup.
Being an old service member yourself, I am sure you at one time or other you sat on a board to determine a soldiers fate and career and I am sure you know that, in the military, when it rains it pours.
My point is: these guys will pay for it one way or another. Maybe not for writing the article but for something as mundane as showing up for work three minutes late six years ago. Ever heard of conduct unbecoming?

I guess it depends on if they went through their PAO before talking to the press. If they did, I don't see anything wrong with the article. If they didn't, going to the press without checking with a PAO is outside the rules regardless of if the article was positive or negative.